Global hydrological forecast system goes beta

April 20th, 2015

The eWaterCycle project team last week launched the beta preview of the eWaterCycle global hydrological forecast system. Using advanced science-based models and high performance computing, the system predicts the water availability of the land surface at a very fine scale for the coming week. This enables mitigation and management of upcoming extreme events, such as floods and droughts.

Unique

Unique about the forecasting system is that in situ and satellite data are used to update and improve the forecast. This allows the system to provide detailed hydrological information for water management challenges around the globe.

Possible applications

The possible applications of such a system are numerous. Water shortages affect crops, navigation, and hydropower generation. Early warnings for floods will give people and business the necessary time to prepare. In a recent survey by the Carbon Disclosure Project, more than 50% of businesses stated that water shortages and excesses regularly affected their operation.